vegan carrot ginger soup recipe

Ingredients

4 medium carrots, peeled, halved

1/4 small onion

1 small garlic cloves, peeled

2 tablespoons oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

pinch of pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

1/2 cup soaked cashews

2 cups vegetable broth

Directions

Place ingredients into the Vitamix and secure lid.

Starting at variable 1, turn machine on and increase speed to 10, then  to high

Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.

Blend for 5 minutes or until you see heavy steam in the lid.

Optionally, and suggested on the vitamix site for the carrot ginger tofu soup, you can sauté the chopped carrots and onion.

basil lemon-limeade recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 3/4 lemons - peeled, sliced and seeded
• 1 lime sliced
• stevia to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• about 1 cup ice, cubed or crushed

Directions

1. Place all of your ingredients into the Vitamix
2. Beginning at speed 1 turn machine on and slowly increase to 10, then to High.
3. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.

I started with the recipe I found on the vitamix site and made it my own. :) 

buckwheat zucchini pancakes recipe

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup milk - I used my homemade almond milk
• 2 cups chopped zucchini
• 2 large eggs or equivalent egg substitute
• 1/4 t salt (optional)
• 2 T sugar or other sweetener, to taste
• 1/4 t ground cinnamon
• 1/4 t ground ginger
• 1 1/2 cups buckwheat flour - I made the flour for this using my dry blade container right before combing these ingredients.  
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 

Directions

1. Place milk, zucchini, egg, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and ginger into the Vitamix container and secure the lid
2. Starting on variable 1, turn machine on and slowly increase to variable 5
3. Blend for 15-20 seconds. Remove the lid and add flour and baking powder
4. Replace lid and blend for 5-10 seconds or until mixed

almond milk recipe

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• 3 cups water
• 1 cup raw almonds
• a sprinkle of cinnamon (optional, but recommended)

1. Soak almonds for about 12 hours - this is optional, but almonds are better for you after soaking.
   • it removes anti-nutrients like phytates, tannins and goitrogens
   • it helps to neutralise enzyme inhibitors
2. Add almonds, and water. If desired, add flavoring and/or sweetener now too. Raw cacao, strawberries, vanilla beans or cinnamon are great for flavoring. Agave or dates are great for sweetening. The only thing I add is the cinnamon.
3. Turn blender on, bring the speed up to high speed quickly. I highly recommend using a vitamix for this if you have one. It does a much better job of pulverizing/pureeing the almonds.  
4. I strain mine and keep the almond meal for later projects/recipes, using a nut milk bag. Their cheap and perfect for the job.

The Blender Girl gives a great explanation about the health benefits of soaking grains, nuts and seeds and it's important.

gluten-free rosemary crackers recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup gluten-free flour of your choice - I used Bob's Red Mill GF All Purpose Baking Flour. Of course, you could always use whole wheat flour or regular all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup almond meal (flour) - I used the left-over almond meal from the almond milk I made the previous day
• 1 1/2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 3/4 Tbsp flax meal
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/2 tsp dried, crushed rosemary
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds - I used ones I had previously roasted
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp olive oil

Directions

homemade butter

So, I made butter for the first time today using my vitamix. . .

2 cups (16 oz.) heavy whipping cream (I used organic)
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon salt, to taste (optional)

1. Pour the cream into the vitamix and place the lid
2. Starting at variable 1, turn blender on and slowly increase the speed to variable 10, then to high
3. Blend until the cream thickens and you hear a change in the sound of the machine
4. Stop the machine, using a spatula, scrape down the sides, pushing the whipped cream into the center of the container
5. Using variable 5, blend for 5 seconds, stop and scrape sides again
6. repeat this a few times until you begin to see liquid, you'll also notice that the sound changes and the blades seem to move more easily
7. Blend for a few more seconds until solid butter sets up in center on top of blades
8. Using a fine strainer, drain the butter. What drains is buttermilk. I didn't save mine this time around, but I intend to next time
9. Put the butter into a bowl and add salt to taste. Manipulate the butter using a spatula or a spoon to push out as much liquid as possible
10. I used a small mason jar to store mine. I'll probably take half of it for storing in the freezer. We simply don't go through butter that quickly.

If you don't have a vitamix, try using a blender, a mason jar or a food processor. 

raw cashew milk recipe

1 cup raw cashews soaked for 2-  4 hours. Soaking is optional, but definitely recommended... the blender girl  explains why wonderfully!
3 or 4 cups of filtered water, depending on how rich and creamy you want it to be
I use 4 cups and it's plenty creamy

optional additions:
sweetening 3-4 Tbsp agave nectar, raw honey, coconut sugar, a couple of pitted dates or
a few drops of Stevia. I am dealing with candida, so I opt for none of these, but I have successfully used raw agave and dates.
1-2 tsp of natural vanilla extract or even better, vanilla right from the bean
a smidge of sea salt

for more milk recipes check out healthyblenderrecipes.com

homemade sunscreen recipe

• 1/2 cup Avocado oil (has natural SPF)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (has natural SPF)
• 1/4 cup beeswax (adds a bit of waterproofing)
• 2 tablespoons Cocoa Butter (or shea butter which has natural spf properties) 
• 2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide. (This makes an SPF of about 20. More can be added for a higher SPF.)
• 30 drops of your favorite essential oils (Do NOT use citrus oils) 

1. In a double boiler, or some home-crafted facsimile, over low heat, melt the beeswax and butters.
2. Remove from the heat and allow to cool just a bit. (Some microwave, I choose to heat on the stove because I'm never sure what microwaving kills or diminishes)
3. Add the zinc oxide powder, and essential oils. Note: Be extremely careful not to inhale the powder, use a mask if necessary, inhaling can be dangerous.
4. Stir until zinc oxide is dissolved.
5. Pour into whatever chosen container or dispenser you have set aside. Push up containers work well for this recipe but as you see, I chose a small jar for this small batch.
6. Allow to cool and harden on the counter overnight and then you’re good to go! During times of heavy sun and swim exposure be sure to reapply often for the best coverage.
7. Left out, this will last about 4 months, if refrigerated, a year. I keep mine in the fridge.  

homemade hand sanitizer recipe

Once again, I couldn't believe how easy it was to make this. And, although I am a firm believer that germs have their place in our world, there are times when I can't wash my hands...

I'm a little unsure about the alcohol because of the drying properties, but I like the idea of knowing one of the ingredients would definitely kill germs. Some of my research has led me to the notion that just tree oil, witch hazel and aloe vera gel would be enough, but being this was my first attempt, I was feeling a slightly neurotic about the process/ingredients.

• 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel
• 1/4 cup grain alcohol (Everclear)
• 1 Tablespoon of witch hazel
• 20 drops tea tree oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops lemon grass essential oil

homemade natural mouthwash

To go with my toothpaste, I decided to make natural mouthwash. We used to use Listerine all of the time, but the use of mouthwash containing that much alcohol can have a drying effect. Not to mention, I don't like not really knowing what that effect of synthetic ingredients can have on our bodies. I just used an old listerine bottle to dispense it from.

• 2 cups of filtered water
• 3 Tbsp xylitol (or to desired taste/sweetness) (or stevia) 
• 1 Tbs of aloe vera gel
• 3 tsp of baking soda
• 2 tsp of peppermint extract
• 8 drops of pure peppermint essential oil
• 6 drops of tea tree essential oil
• 4 drops of bergamot essential oil (optional)
• 1/2 tsp of myrrh tincture (optional)

First I blended the water and xylitol in my vita-mix. Sans the vita-mix, I would have warmed the water first to dissolve the xylitol. Then I added the rest of the ingredients to a jar and shook really well to mix.

Update: I cleaned out a used brown, glass bottle that my Omega 3-6-9's came in and it's perfect. And it stays fresher longer because I'm using glass and because it's brown, so less light gets in.

homemade toothpaste recipe

I am loving this first toothpaste recipe! When I had my metal fillings replaced, I had no idea that what they were replacing it with would make my teeth so sensitive to cold. This has replaced my sensodyne!

I've updated with 2 additional recipes.

recipe 1

• 2 Tbsp bentonite or kaolin clay
• 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder
• 1 Tbsp calcium carbonate
• 1 Tbsp xylitol
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 Tsp peppermint extract
• 3 Tbsp coconut oil (or until desired consistency is reached)
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil 
• 5 drops clove oil (optional)
• 2 drops orange oil (optional)

recipe 2

• 1 1/2 Tbsp kaolin clay
• 1 1/2 Tbsp bentonite clay
• 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder
• 1 Tbsp xylitol
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 Tbsp glycerin (or until desired consistency is reached)
• 3 Tsp peppermint extract
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil

recipe 3

• 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 3 tsp glycerin (or until desired consistency is reached)
• 1/2 Tsp peppermint extract